Springer's RBI single in 11th lifts Astros over Reds 5-4

Houston Astros' Evan Gattis (11) swings to hit a two-run home run as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart, left, reaches for the pitch during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 18, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

David J. Phillip

June 18, 2016

HOUSTON (AP) George Springer erased a lousy day with one big swing.

Springer hit an RBI single in the 11th inning to give the Houston Astros a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Jason Castro and Colby Rasmus hit consecutive singles off Josh Smith (0-1) with one out before Springer's grounder rolled just out of reach of diving shortstop Zack Cozart and into the outfield. Springer was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts before he made the most of his extra-inning opportunity.

''Just trying to help us win and was able to find a hole this time,'' Springer said.

Marwin Gonzalez and Evan Gattis each hit a two-run homer for Houston, and Adam Duvall tied it with a two-run shot for Cincinnati in the ninth. The series opener also went into extra innings, with the Reds winning 4-2 in 11 on Friday night.

''We had a lot of opportunities tonight to end this game, we had opportunities last night to end the game,'' Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. ''The one we will remember was the ground-ball base hit up the middle by George.''

Scott Feldman (4-3) allowed two hits in two scoreless innings for the win.

The Astros had a runner at third with one out in the ninth, but Smith retired Rasmus and Springer to end the inning.

Houston jumped in front when Danny Worth hit a leadoff double in the seventh and Gattis followed with a drive to center against Cody Reed, stopping an 0-for-23 skid with his 10th homer.

Cincinnati responded in the ninth. With Joey Votto on first after a leadoff single, Duvall's two-out, two-strike shot off Ken Giles to the third row in right field tied it at 4. It was Duvall's 20th homer and Houston's 10th blown save this season.

Gonzalez's homer in the first lifted Houston a 2-0 lead. The Reds tied it up on a run-scoring groundout by Billy Hamilton in the fifth and a homer by Cozart in the sixth.

Houston ace Dallas Keuchel allowed five hits in seven innings, but remained winless since May 28.

''I'm a competitor, so yeah I'm going to be frustrated with not getting the win but team wins are ultimately more important,'' he said.

Luke Gregerson, who was recently moved out of the closer's role, struck out the side in the eighth.

Reed struck out nine in seven innings in his major league debut. The left-hander, who was acquired in last year's trade that sent Johnny Cueto to Kansas City, allowed six hits and walked three.

Reed, one of Cincinnati's top prospects, went 6-3 with a 3.20 ERA in 11 starts for Triple-A Louisville before being called up on Saturday. His nine strikeouts were the most by a Cincinnati pitcher in his debut since Cueto fanned 10 on April 3, 2008.

''I'm tickled to death that this kid is here,'' Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. ''I think he's earned it. He has done it the right way. He has touched every level of baseball. He did well in Triple-A and earned a right to be here. I'm excited he's here, and he will learn from all these experiences.''

Springer walked to start Houston's first before Gonzalez connected on a 95 mph fastball for his fifth homer.

Reed settled down after that, retiring seven of the next eight before Gonzalez and Jose Altuve hit consecutive singles with one out in the third. But Carlos Correa then grounded into a double play.

Eugenio Suarez tripled to start the Cincinnati fifth and scored on Hamilton's grounder. Cozart sent the first pitch of the sixth inning into the seats in left field for his 10th homer.

Hamilton robbed Jake Marisnick of a hit in the second inning when he sprinted and dived to grab a fly ball hit to right-center field before crashing shoulder-first into the wall and tumbling to the ground.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: RHP Homer Bailey (right elbow surgery) threw live batting practice at the team's spring training facility in Arizona on Friday without problems. He will throw live batting practice again on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Reds: LHP Brandon Finnegan (3-4, 3.61 ERA) is scheduled to start for Cincinnati on Sunday. Finnegan is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in his last three outings.

Astros: RHP Mike Fiers (4-3, 4.76 ERA) will make his 13th start for Houston. Fiers allowed two runs in seven innings of a 4-3 win at Tampa Bay in his last start.

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